# People shouting "Kill Obama!" at McCain/Palin rallies: where's the Secret Service? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 15, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117 "2008-10-15T23:19:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2008, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/1 "2008-10-15T23:19:14Z")
Historically, the Secret Service takes a very dim view on those threatening to kill presidential candidates, as well as the standing President. So, considering all the people shouting “Kill Obama!”, “Off with his head!”, and so on at recent McCain rallies, why is there no Secret Service response? I have a feeling that if people shouted “Death to McCain!” and the like at Obama rallies, those folks would have had their faces captured through the telephoto lenses of some very expensive taxpayer-funded cameras, followed a few hours later by men in black suits showing up at their doorsteps to haul them off for interrogation. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/2 "2008-10-16T00:09:49Z")
I wouldn’t be surprised if people are shouting this – I see so much venom coming from both sides of the contest, but the right wing guys always talk/joke about killing the people they don’t like (see: [Ann Coulter](http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20060127130745433) et. al.). I’m with you that it’s disgusting and something should be done – something on the order of holding them without trial in Guantanamo Bay for five years, like we do with other advocates of killing Americans. If it’s happening. But, before we get all het up about what the Secret Service is going to do about it, can we have some kind of factual citation that it’s actually taking place? Sailboat ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/3 "2008-10-16T00:18:33Z")
[Here’s](http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j8yporyu6MpBFoNl7KqRXqYePFmQD93R63Q82) an AP report that says the Secret Service has looked into it, couldn’t verify that “kill him” was what was said, and also mentions other instances of similar shouts. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/4 "2008-10-16T00:21:09Z")
Also, to add to the mix - [Sacramento](http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008270474_webcampwebsite16.html)GOP Website urges people to “waterboard Obama” ["Joke"](http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/news/story/joke-about-killing-obama-circulated-by-top-gop-figure/)about killing Obama circulated by Republican fundraiser in FL I don’t know what the Secret Service is doing about these situations. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/5 "2008-10-16T00:38:20Z")
> [@C3](#): > > Also, to add to the mix - > ["Joke"](http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/news/story/joke-about-killing-obama-circulated-by-top-gop-figure/)about killing Obama circulated by Republican fundraiser in FL > > I don’t know what the Secret Service is doing about these situations. I always heard that joke being about GWB. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/6 "2008-10-16T00:58:45Z")
From the [Scranton Times-Tribune](http://www.scrantontimes.com/articles/2008/10/15/news/doc48f6128d24004210022010.txt): > [@](#): > > Spokesman Darrin Blackford said the agency takes the threat seriously. If the agency can determine who shouted the remark, it would present that information to federal prosecutors, he said. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/7 "2008-10-16T01:11:46Z")
> [@kaylasdad](#): > > I always heard that joke being about GWB. I never heard it before, but it sounds like a cheap knockoff of what Disraeli said about the difference between “misfortune” and “calamity” (“If Mr. Gladstone fell into the Thames, that would be a misfortune; if somebody pulled him out again, that would be a calamity”). ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/8 "2008-10-16T01:13:32Z")
Is it also possible there IS an investigation going on, and they’re keeping it on the down-low, for security purposes? ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/9 "2008-10-16T02:52:43Z")
I’ll also note that [TPM, citing the AP](http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/10/secret_service_looking_into_ob.php) (with no further specifics), is reporting that the Secret Service hasn’t found any verification of the claims of a “kill him” shout in Florida (not the Scranton, PA claim mentioned in my last post): > [@](#): > > Last week, The Washington Post reported a similar incident during a Palin rally in Clearwater, Fla. The Secret Service investigated that allegation and found no indication that “kill him” was ever said, or if it was said, that the remark was directed at Obama. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/10 "2008-10-16T05:49:31Z")
Thanks for the clarification, everybody. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/11 "2008-10-16T19:28:48Z")
What about the agents AT the rallies. I realize their main purpose is to protect the politician speaking from physical threats, but surely theres some action an agent who overhears someone shout “Kill him” should be taking, even if the chances of tracking done who said it are pretty slim. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/12 "2008-10-16T19:41:58Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Is it also possible there IS an investigation going on, and they’re keeping it on the down-low, for security purposes? I was just about to say: It’s a secret. Secret Service - I don’t doubt the SS doesn’t give information. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/13 "2008-10-16T19:54:43Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Is it also possible there IS an investigation going on, and they’re keeping it on the down-low, for security purposes? I doubt it. A very public investigation would be the best way to prevent people from screaming death threats. (assuming that there actually have been such threats, with cameras to prove it) Like the way airport security treats somebody who jokes about having a bomb in his suitcase. Make an example out of the poor guy, and everybody else shuts up. ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/14 "2008-10-16T20:37:41Z")
[According to WP’s Dana Milbank, they are too busy trying to protect those very folks in the crowd (and the candidate?) from those ever so dangerous reporters.](http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=45&aid=152411) > [@](#): > > I have to say the Secret Service is in dangerous territory here. In cooperation with the Palin campaign, they’ve started preventing reporters from leaving the press section to interview people in the crowd. This is a serious violation of their duty – protecting the protectee – and gets into assisting with the political aspirations of the candidate. It also often makes it impossible for reporters to get into the crowd to question the people who say vulgar things. So they prevent reporters from getting near the people doing the shouting, then claim it’s unfounded because the reporters can’t get close enough to identify the person. If you follow the link through to the WaPost’s page, the quote is about two-thirds of the way down. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/15 "2008-10-16T21:22:40Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > What about the agents AT the rallies. I realize their main purpose is to protect the politician speaking from physical threats, but surely theres some action an agent who overhears someone shout “Kill him” should be taking, even if the chances of tracking done who said it are pretty slim. Have you ever been able make out what anyone was saying one section over at a baseball game? I mean yeah, this’d be nice, but those rallies are _loud_ and those guys can’t be everywhere. Plus, I’d imagine I’d look around for trim haircuts and black shades in my immediate area if I were to yell something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/16 "2008-10-16T22:09:38Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > What about the agents AT the rallies. I realize their main purpose is to protect the politician speaking from physical threats, but surely theres some action an agent who overhears someone shout “Kill him” should be taking, even if the chances of tracking done who said it are pretty slim. They think the whole thing is made up too: > [@](#): > > Agent Bill Slavoski said he was in the audience, along with an undisclosed number of additional secret service agents and other law enforcement officers and not one heard the comment. > > “I was baffled,” he said after reading the report in Wednesday’s Times-Tribune. > > He said the agency conducted an investigation Wednesday, after seeing the story, and could not find one person to corroborate the allegation other than Singleton. [Source](http://www.timesleader.com/news/breakingnews/Secret_Service_says_Kill_him_allegation_unfounded_.html) ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/17 "2008-10-16T22:14:16Z")
> [@tds1273](#): > > [According to WP’s Dana Milbank, they are too busy trying to protect those very folks in the crowd (and the candidate?) from those ever so dangerous reporters.](http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=45&aid=152411) > > “I have to say the Secret Service is in dangerous territory here. In cooperation with the Palin campaign, they’ve started preventing reporters from leaving the press section to interview people in the crowd. This is a serious violation of their duty – protecting the protectee – and gets into assisting with the political aspirations of the candidate. It also often makes it impossible for reporters to get into the crowd to question the people who say vulgar things. So they prevent reporters from getting near the people doing the shouting, then claim it’s unfounded because the reporters can’t get close enough to identify the person.” > If you follow the link through to the WaPost’s page, the quote is about two-thirds of the way down. Let me just say that this is an even-handed thing. I and five of my reporters attended a Biden rally Tuesday night here in Marietta. When two of my kids went off to interview some protestors who were at the edge of the rally (not inside the security zone) they were told they weren’t permitted to do so by security for reasons of ‘crowd control’. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/18 "2008-10-16T22:17:01Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > They think the whole thing is made up too: > > [Source](http://www.timesleader.com/news/breakingnews/Secret_Service_says_Kill_him_allegation_unfounded_.html) Where does it say that? ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/19 "2008-10-16T23:14:10Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > Let me just say that this is an even-handed thing. I and five of my reporters attended a Biden rally Tuesday night here in Marietta. When two of my kids went off to interview some protestors who were at the edge of the rally (not inside the security zone) they were told they weren’t permitted to do so by security for reasons of ‘crowd control’. There’s a difference between kids wandering around and attendees with press credentials. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117/20 "2008-10-17T00:15:49Z")
Ah, allow me to clarify. The two ‘kids’ to which I refer are 29 and 26, respectively, and both had full access media badges. They were prevented from speaking to the protesters by security for, as I said, crowd control. Forgive my vernacular. But they do seem to be kids to me from my Olympian 40s. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-shouting-kill-obama-at-mccain-palin-rallies-wheres-the-secret-service/468117.md?page=2)